Expenditure Estimates for the Ministry of Labour (2017-18)

The 2017-2018 Expenditure Estimates set out details of the operating and capital spending requirements of the Ministry of Labour for the fiscal year commencing April 1, 2017.

On this page Skip this page navigation

Summary

The Ministry’s key activities are: Occupational Health and Safety Enforcement and Prevention, Employment Rights and Responsibilities and Labour Relations. In this context, the Ministry provides advice and information to the government on labour and workplace issues; establishes and implements a provincial occupational health and safety strategy to ensure the alignment of health and safety activities across all system partners; designates, funds and maintains oversight over Health and Safety Associations; establishes standards for training programs, training providers, as well as training and other requirements for certification of joint health and safety committee members; develops policies; sets and enforces standards and legislation; carries out investigations; informs employers and workers about their workplace rights and responsibilities; ensures the provision of assistance in negotiating collective agreements and establishing arbitration boards; assists in building cooperative workplace relationships; and administers, interprets, and applies relevant labour legislation.

Ministry program summary

Vote	Program	Estimates 2017-18	Estimates 2016-17	Difference between 2017-18 and 2016-17	Actual 2015-16
	Operating expense
1601	Ministry Administration Program	$20,231,500	$21,013,700	($782,200)	$20,481,849
1602	Pay Equity Commission Program	$3,596,000	$3,598,000	($2,000)	$3,403,717
1603	Labour Relations Program	$24,271,100	$24,299,200	($28,100)	$23,351,029
1604	Occupational Health and Safety Program	$223,679,000	$221,222,000	$2,457,000	$216,930,279
1605	Employment Rights and Responsibilities Program	$38,564,600	$39,157,900	($593,300)	$39,850,839
	Total operating expense to be voted	$310,342,200	$309,290,800	$1,051,400	$304,017,713
	Statutory appropriations	$65,014	$65,014	-	$93,228
	Ministry total operating expense	$310,407,214	$309,355,814	$1,051,400	$304,110,941
	Capital expense
1601	Ministry Administration Program	$901,000	$651,000	$250,000	$220,000
1604	Occupational Health and Safety Program	$491,000	$491,000	-	$646,233
1605	Employment Rights and Responsibilities Program	$1,000	-	$1,000	-
	Total capital expense to be voted	$1,393,000	$1,142,000	$251,000	$866,233
	Statutory appropriations	$3,000	$2,000	$1,000	-
	Ministry total capital expense	$1,396,000	$1,144,000	$252,000	$866,233
	Capital assets
1601	Ministry Administration Program	-	$1,000	($1,000)	-
1604	Occupational Health and Safety Program	$1,000	$1,000	-	-
1605	Employment Rights and Responsibilities Program	$1,000	-	$1,000	-
	Total capital assets to be voted	$2,000	$2,000	-	-
	Ministry total capital assets	$2,000	$2,000	-	-

	Ministry total operating and capital including consolidation and other adjustments (not including assets)	$311,803,214	$310,499,814	$1,303,400	$304,977,174

Reconciliation to previously published data

Operating expense	2016-17 Estimates	2015-16 Actual
Restated total operating expense	$309,355,814	$304,110,941
Total operating expense previously published ^{footnote 1[1]}	$308,361,814	$303,219,630
Government reorganization
Transfer of functions from other Ministries	$994,000	$891,311

Ministry Administration Program - vote 1601

This Program coordinates the decision making processes of the Ministry and provides technical and professional services to support the design, implementation and effective delivery of Ministry programs. The Program includes the Minister’s Office, Parliamentary Assistant’s Office and Deputy Minister’s Office.

Vote summary

Item number	Item	Estimates 2017-18	Estimates 2016-17	Difference between 2017-18 and 2016-17	Actual 2015-16
	Operating expense
1	Ministry Administration	$20,231,500	$21,013,700	($782,200)	$20,481,849
	Total operating expense to be voted	$20,231,500	$21,013,700	($782,200)	$20,481,849
S	Minister’s salary, the Executive Council Act	$47,841	$47,841	-	$49,301
S	Parliamentary Assistant’s salary, the Executive Council Act	$16,173	$16,173	-	$33,334
S	Bad debt expense, the Financial Administration Act	$1,000	$1,000	-	$10,593
	Total statutory appropriations	$65,014	$65,014	-	$93,228
	Total operating expense	$20,296,514	$21,078,714	($782,200)	$20,575,077
	Capital expense
3	Ministry Administration	$901,000	$651,000	$250,000	$220,000
	Total capital expense to be voted	$901,000	$651,000	$250,000	$220,000
S	Amortization, the Financial Administration Act	$1,000	$1,000	-	-
	Total statutory appropriations	$1,000	$1,000	-	-
	Total capital expense	$902,000	$652,000	$250,000	$220,000
	Capital assets
-	Ministry Administration	-	$1,000	($1,000)	-
	Total capital assets to be voted	-	$1,000	($1,000)	-
	Total capital assets	-	$1,000	($1,000)	-

Standard account by item and sub-items

Vote - item number	Standard account by item and sub-items	Amount	Amount
	Operating expense
1601-1	Ministry Administration
	Salaries and wages		$8,265,600
	Employee benefits		$994,200
	Transportation and communication		$821,400
	Services		$9,832,000
	Supplies and equipment		$318,300
	Total operating expense to be voted		$20,231,500
	Sub-items:
	Main office
	Salaries and wages	$2,018,100
	Employee benefits	$245,600
	Transportation and communication	$77,500
	Services	$701,700
	Supplies and equipment	$51,400	$3,094,300
	Financial and administrative services
	Salaries and wages	$1,495,000
	Employee benefits	$181,000
	Transportation and communication	$52,900
	Services	$707,600
	Supplies and equipment	$33,300	$2,469,800
	Corporate services
	Salaries and wages	$997,000
	Employee benefits	$120,100
	Transportation and communication	$19,600
	Services	$207,600
	Supplies and equipment	$11,800	$1,356,100
	Strategic human resources
	Salaries and wages	$1,092,600
	Employee benefits	$132,900
	Transportation and communication	$39,400
	Services	$223,100
	Supplies and equipment	$26,800	$1,514,800
	Communications services
	Salaries and wages	$2,600,400
	Employee benefits	$304,800
	Transportation and communication	$124,500
	Services	$245,400
	Supplies and equipment	$25,000	$3,300,100
	Legal services
	Salaries and wages	$62,500
	Employee benefits	$9,800
	Transportation and communication	$507,500
	Services	$7,184,100
	Supplies and equipment	$170,000	$7,933,900
	Audit services
	Services	$252,100	$252,100
	Information systems
	Services	$310,400	$310,400
	Total operating expense to be voted		$20,231,500
	Statutory appropriations
Statutory	Minister’s salary, the Executive Council Act		$47,841
Statutory	Parliamentary Assistant’s salary, the Executive Council Act		$16,173
	Statutory appropriations
	Other transactions
Statutory	Bad debt expense, the Financial Administration Act		$1,000
	Total operating expense for Ministry Administration Program		$20,296,514
	Capital expense
1601-3	Ministry Administration
	Services		$900,000
	Other transactions		$1,000
	Total capital expense to be voted		$901,000
	Statutory appropriations
	Other transactions
Statutory	Amortization, the Financial Administration Act		$1,000
	Total capital expense for Ministry Administration Program		$902,000

Pay Equity Commission Program - vote 1602

The mandate of the Pay Equity Office (PEO) is to administer and enforce Ontario’s Pay Equity Act, which is intended to redress systemic gender discrimination in the compensation of work primarily performed by women. To carry out this mandate, the PEO provides education and advice to employers, employees and bargaining agents in the public and private sectors to achieve and maintain pay equity in their workplaces. The PEO also investigates complaints, conducts monitoring programs, attempts to effect settlements of pay equity issues between the parties and issues Orders for compliance where necessary.

The Pay Equity Hearings Tribunal, a quasi-judicial tri-partite administrative tribunal, is responsible for adjudicating disputes arising under the Pay Equity Act.

Vote summary

Item number	Item	Estimates 2017-18	Estimates 2016-17	Difference between 2017-18 and 2016-17	Actual 2015-16
	Operating expense
1	Pay Equity Office	$3,097,700	$3,099,700	($2,000)	$3,121,661
2	Pay equity hearings tribunal	$498,300	$498,300	-	$282,056
	Total operating expense to be voted	$3,596,000	$3,598,000	($2,000)	$3,403,717
	Total operating expense	$3,596,000	$3,598,000	($2,000)	$3,403,717

Standard account by item and sub-items

Vote - item number	Standard account by item and sub-items	Amount
	Operating expense
1602-1	Pay Equity Office
	Salaries and wages	$2,347,100
	Employee benefits	$266,100
	Transportation and communication	$50,000
	Services	$364,500
	Supplies and equipment	$20,000
	Transfer payments
	Gender wage gap transfer payment	$50,000
	Total operating expense to be voted	$3,097,700
1602-2	Pay equity hearings tribunal
	Salaries and wages	$275,100
	Employee benefits	$39,700
	Transportation and communication	$15,000
	Services	$167,500
	Supplies and equipment	$1,000
	Total operating expense to be voted	$498,300
	Total operating expense for Pay Equity Commission Program	$3,596,000

Labour Relations Program - vote 1603

The role of Labour Relations is to promote a stable labour relations climate and harmonious workplace relationships in the province. This is achieved through collective agreement conciliation and mediation, appointment of arbitrators, modernized collective bargaining information services, relationship building and training. The Labour Relations Program also oversees the Ontario College of Trades and Apprenticeship Act, 2009 and provides secretariat support to the College of Trades Appointments Council and Classification Roster.

The Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) is an independent, quasi-judicial tribunal which mediates and adjudicates a variety of employment and labour relations-related matters under various Ontario statutes, including appeals of decisions of employment standards officers and occupational health and safety inspectors.

The Crown Employees Grievance Settlement Board (GSB) is an independent quasi-judicial tribunal that mediates and adjudicates the labour relations disputes of Ontario Crown Employees. The GSB also provides financial and administrative services to the Public Service Grievance Board, an agency of the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services.

Dispute Resolution Services provides neutral, third-party assistance to trade unions and employers through collective agreement conciliation and mediation, appointment of arbitrators, collective bargaining information, relationship building and training.

Vote summary

Item number	Item	Estimates 2017-18	Estimates 2016-17	Difference between 2017-18 and 2016-17	Actual 2015-16
	Operating expense
1	Ontario Labour Relations Board	$12,596,200	$12,775,000	($178,800)	$12,854,449
2	Grievance Settlement Board	$1,482,100	$1,483,600	($1,500)	$1,371,108
3	Dispute resolution services	$10,192,800	$10,040,600	$152,200	$9,125,472
	Total operating expense to be voted	$24,271,100	$24,299,200	($28,100)	$23,351,029
	Total operating expense	$24,271,100	$24,299,200	($28,100)	$23,351,029

Standard account by item and sub-items

Vote - item number	Standard account by item and sub-items	Amount
	Operating expense
1603-1	Ontario labour relations board
	Salaries and wages	$7,897,900
	Employee benefits	$962,800
	Transportation and communication	$448,900
	Services	$3,204,400
	Supplies and equipment	$82,200
	Total operating expense to be voted	$12,596,200
1603-2	Grievance settlement board
	Salaries and wages	$426,800
	Employee benefits	$63,500
	Transportation and communication	$176,400
	Services	$2,063,300
	Supplies and equipment	$23,200
	Subtotal	$2,753,200
	Less: recoveries	$1,271,100
	Total operating expense to be voted	$1,482,100
1603-3	Dispute resolution services
	Salaries and wages	$7,093,700
	Employee benefits	$890,000
	Transportation and communication	$533,200
	Services	$1,599,300
	Supplies and equipment	$76,600
	Total operating expense to be voted	$10,192,800
	Total operating expense for Labour Relations Program	$24,271,100

Occupational Health and Safety Program - vote 1604

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Program’s primary mandate is the setting, communicating and enforcing of the occupational health and safety legislation and regulations, and coordinating Ontario’s workplace injury and illness prevention system to reduce or eliminate workplace injury or illness.

Largely through inspections and investigations of workplaces, the OHS program monitors compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (the Act), and assists workplace parties in securing a healthy and safe working environment. Through the administration and enforcement of the Act and its regulations, it encourages employers and workers to cooperatively identify and control health and safety hazards.

The Prevention Office is responsible for initiatives aimed at preventing occupational injuries, illness and fatalities in Ontario. This includes the development of a province-wide health and safety strategy to align OHS priorities across all system partners, and related implementation activities such as mandatory workplace health and safety training, standards, research and awareness. The Office establishes standards for, and approval of high risk training programs and providers; as well as requirements for certification of joint health and safety committee members. It also oversees prevention research and innovation grants programs which provide funding to recipients who meet specific eligibility criteria. Through transfer payment agreements, the office designates and maintains oversight of Health and Safety Associations, who offer specific training, consulting and clinical services.

The Office of the Worker Adviser (OWA) provides advisory, representation and educational services to non-unionized injured workers and survivors in workplace insurance cases, including representation before the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal. The OWA also provides the same range of services to non-unionized workers in reprisal complaint cases under Section 50 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, including representation at the Ontario Labour Relations Board.

The Office of the Employer Adviser (OEA) provides advisory and educational services to all Ontario employers and representation services primarily to smaller employers, with fewer than 100 employees, with regard to workplace safety insurance matters before the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal. The OEA also provides representation services to employers with fewer than 50 workers at the Ontario Labour Relations Board in reprisal complaint cases under Section 50 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Vote summary

Item number	Item	Estimates 2017-18	Estimates 2016-17	Difference between 2017-18 and 2016-17	Actual 2015-16
	Operating expense
1	Occupational health and safety	$89,046,300	$89,930,900	($884,600)	$88,235,208
2	Workplace safety and insurance advisory program administration	$606,300	$606,300	-	$605,300
3	Office of the worker adviser	$11,390,000	$11,401,900	($11,900)	$11,128,135
4	Office of the employer adviser	$3,783,800	$3,825,500	($41,700)	$3,671,682
7	Prevention office	$118,852,600	$115,457,400	$3,395,200	$113,289,954
	Total operating expense to be voted	$223,679,000	$221,222,000	$2,457,000	$216,930,279
	Total operating expense	$223,679,000	$221,222,000	$2,457,000	$216,930,279
	Capital expense
6	Occupational health and safety	$1,000	$1,000	-	$220,000
8	Prevention office capital	$490,000	$490,000	-	$426,233
	Total capital expense to be voted	$491,000	$491,000	-	$646,233
S	Amortization, the Financial Administration Act	$1,000	$1,000	-	-
	Total statutory appropriations	$1,000	$1,000	-	-
	Total capital expense	$492,000	$492,000	-	$646,233
	Capital assets
5	Occupational health and safety	$1,000	$1,000	-	-
	Total capital assets to be voted	$1,000	$1,000	-	-
	Total capital assets	$1,000	$1,000	-	-

Standard account by item and sub-items

Vote - item number	Standard account by item and sub-items	Amount	Amount
	Operating expense
1604-1	Occupational health and safety
	Salaries and wages		$60,179,000
	Employee benefits		$8,969,300
	Transportation and communication		$4,111,400
	Services		$14,123,500
	Supplies and equipment		$1,372,100
	Transfer payments
	Grants to radiation safety institute of anada	$40,000
	Grants to promote improved health and safety practices	$251,000	$291,000
	Total operating expense to be voted		$89,046,300
1604-2	Workplace safety and insurance advisory program administration
	Salaries and wages		$506,200
	Employee benefits		$75,900
	Transportation and communication		$8,200
	Services		$5,600
	Supplies and equipment		$10,400
	Total operating expense to be voted		$606,300
1604-3	Office of the worker adviser
	Salaries and wages		$7,783,100
	Employee benefits		$1,790,100
	Transportation and communication		$300,000
	Services		$1,416,800
	Supplies and equipment		$100,000
	Total operating expense to be voted		$11,390,000
1604-4	Office of the employer adviser
	Salaries and wages		$2,582,700
	Employee benefits		$594,100
	Transportation and communication		$154,300
	Services		$362,900
	Supplies and equipment		$89,800
	Total operating expense to be voted		$3,783,800
1604-7	Prevention office
	Salaries and wages		$9,289,500
	Employee benefits		$1,239,500
	Transportation and communication		$317,300
	Services		$3,962,600
	Supplies and equipment		$147,600
	Transfer payments
	Health and safety associations	$90,763,400
	Prevention research	$8,062,200
	Prevention grants	$2,887,800	$103,896,100
	Total operating expense to be voted		$118,852,600
	Total operating expense for Occupational Health and Safety Program		$223,679,000
	Capital expense
1604-6	Occupational health and safety
	Other transactions		$1,000
	Total capital expense to be voted		$1,000
	Statutory appropriations
	Other transactions
Statutory	Amortization, the Financial Administration Act		$1,000
1604-8	Prevention office capital
	Transfer payments
	Health and safety associations capital		$490,000
	Total capital expense to be voted		$490,000
	Total capital expense for Occupational Health and Safety Program		$492,000
	Capital assets
1604-5	Occupational health and safety
	Machinery and equipment - asset costs		$1,000
	Total capital assets to be voted		$1,000
	Total capital assets for occupational Health and safety program		$1,000

Employment Rights and Responsibilities Program - vote 1605

The Employment Rights and Responsibilities Program (ERRP) is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Employment standards Act, 2000 and its regulations, the Employment Protection for Foreign Nationals Act, and the Protecting Child Performers Act.

The ERRP ensures that Ontario workers are protected by minimum standards of employment covering wages and working conditions. It promotes compliance with these standards through inspections, investigations and enforcement initiatives, and encourages self-reliance through education, outreach and partnership efforts.

Vote summary

Item number	Item	Estimates 2017-18	Estimates 2016-17	Difference between 2017-18 and 2016-17	Actual 2015-16
	Operating expense
1	Employment standards	$38,564,600	$39,157,900	($593,300)	$39,850,839
	Total operating expense to be voted	$38,564,600	$39,157,900	($593,300)	$39,850,839
	Total operating expense	$38,564,600	$39,157,900	($593,300)	$39,850,839
	Capital expense
2	Employment standards	$1,000	-	$1,000	-
	Total capital expense to be voted	$1,000	-	$1,000	-
S	Amortization, the Financial Administration Act	$1,000	-	$1,000	-
	Total statutory appropriations	$1,000	-	$1,000	-
	Total capital expense	$2,000	-	$2,000	-
	Capital assets
3	Employment standards	$1,000	-	$1,000	-
	Total capital assets to be voted	$1,000	-	$1,000	-
	Total capital assets	$1,000	-	$1,000	-

Standard account by item and sub-items

Vote - item number	Standard account by item and sub-items	Amount
	Operating expense
1605-1	Employment standards
	Salaries and wages	$26,708,800
	Employee benefits	$3,936,800
	Transportation and communication	$1,388,200
	Services	$6,195,800
	Supplies and equipment	$333,000
	Transfer payments
	Grants to promote improved employment practices	$2,000
	Total operating expense to be voted	$38,564,600
	Total operating expense for Employment Rights and Responsibilities Program	$38,564,600
	Capital expense
1605-2	Employment standards
	Services	$1,000
	Total capital expense to be voted	$1,000
	Statutory Appropriation
Statutory	Amortization, the Financial Administration Act
	Other transactions	$1,000
	Total capital expense for Employment Rights and Responsibilities Program	$2,000
	Capital assets
1605-3	Employment standards
	Investments in tangible capital asset	$1,000
	Total capital assets to be voted	$1,000
	Total capital assets for Employment Rights and Responsibilities Program	$1,000

Updated: January 15, 2026

Published: May 18, 2017

Footnotes

footnote[1] Back to paragraph Total operating expense includes statutory appropriations, special warrants and total operating expense to be voted.